Orange You Glad It's Dec....

So I got another early XMAS present... this time from my roomie, Lyn, who just came back from her -- what seems like -- bi-monthly trip to JAPAN... this year - she decided to give everyone Fleece Jackets... so she came home with a suitcase full of Fleece Jackets in varying colors... as she knows that i love colors and am a bit more adventurous when it comes to wearing colors, she opted to give me the brightest one of all - ORANGE!!! Works fine with me as I even have a nice scarf to go a long with it... HAHAHAHAHA....

And it just so happen that, yesterday the 2nd of DEC, I had a get together, catch up, coffee break @ STARBUCKS with Juliana (hey did we not just see each other a lot? Hahahahahaha) -- so I had an excuse to put it all on as weather here is quite cold lately... freezing to be exact, only thing missing is the snow... PERFECT really to wear such a coat....

@ Taipei Starbucks... same XMas Decor as Manila's Starbucks -- but alas, NO PLANNERS/NO STICKERS!!!!

at long last...

....a new COMPUTER!!!! okay, it is not a MAC AIR or Mac Book...but really no matter... it is MINE and I LOVE IT!!!

Actually just an HP ELITE BOOK 2530P laptop... means nothing to me except that, it is FAST and easy for me to use... plus since it is a laptop, i now have the luxury of typing in bed... like now!!!! Still learning the ropes with this one... plus still, have many software to UPLOAD.... he (my computer is manly, of course!) is lite so will travel really, really well... the only drawback for me is that it has a built in WEB CAM - TEMPTATION, get thee away from me... am told that this is Business person's type of laptop -- so I might have to withhold doing YM, cam to cam.... HAHAHAHAHAHA....One of my roomies, SHAUN, who has connections got me this HP for less than HALF the going price.... Boy, working for the leading Taiwan newspaper really has their benefits... they get the BEST DEALS!!! As an added bonus - since it is almost XMAS, it came with this mini XMAS tree that has a USB connection and when plugged in, lites up in all it's XMAS GLORY! FUN!!!
So for now, I will not be having COMPUTER BLUES - I HOPE!!!!

STRABUCKS Planner 2009

Am soooo EXCITED to see that STARBUCKS will have another planner for 2009.... I enjoyed the one for last year and though, this is not as good as the leather bound one from 2008 - some of the graphics inside are really, really nice.... so am working on getting one...

PROMO is already running.... and will run till the 6th of JAN.... you will need 8 stickers from the coffee purchases... and 8 from 3 of the HOLIDAY SPECIAL drinks: Dark Cherry Mocha, Praline Mocha & Toffee Mint Latte = a total of 16 stickers!!! Not too bad as I remembered last year being sooo much more.... Thanks to Juliana's recent trip to Manila, am 4 coffees and 2 special drinks away in completing mine... Imagine, even on our way to the airport to catch a flight back to TAIWAN, we still managed to stop by a STARBUCKS for two more stickers... LOLs....

Not sure where else this PROMO is running... certainly not here in TAIWAN... boo hoo... but it is available in all STARBUCKS in Manila...

Be Sure to check out this really cute HOLIDAY REINDEER they are offering.... it is small enough to fit inside a mug for a SPECIAL GIFT.... and of course, cute enough to buy for yourself!

PS:
am not a SHARE HOLDER of STARBUCKS - I WISH!!! I am merely sharing INFO... hehehehe Below are a couple of ILLUSTRATIONS from the planner that caught my eye....

24 Days Before XMas!!!

...and the COUNTDOWN BEGINS... tis' the season once again... so make your preparations... leave the troubles behind.... and share in the joys of the season with family, friends, love ones, & even strangers....

Here's a funny looking XMas thing to get to started... I met him during the last travel to Manila, just last week....

ALESSI: when art meets kitchen

I first discovered ALESSI during one of our get-together dinners here in Taiwan... Sue & Cecilia gifted us with what I came to know later as part of the Chin Family Collection of ALESSI products... I instantly fell for them and had to google more about ALESSI.... hence, I came to know that they are on the pricey side...

On one of my shopping adventures in Manila though, accompanied by Juliana, we happen upon the FLAGSHIP store of ALESSI... for the very first time, I got to see/admire/and study their selections -- including the complete Chin Family Collection... and instantly, my initial love for the products was rekindled -- I broke down and bought the salt & pepper shaker from the Chin Family collection, of course!!! And one more purchase later, the newly released XMas candle holder - AM A CONVERT, A COLLECTOR!!! Needless to say that it helped plenty seeing Juliana purchase quite a few items, too!

The shop showcased a wide array of products... from cookware, kitchen wares, and just about anything you can think of to make decorating your homes fun... and pricewise, they are comparable to the shops in Europe and US -- so you know you are not paying anymore that others. For me, the best thing about ALESSI products are the design twists added on each and every item they make -- clocks, bathroom plunger, juicers, etc -- all are just so whimsically delightful without losing the design edge.

"Architecturally inspired pieces, carefully crafted, pushes the boundaries of creativity. Each piece really do combine great aesthetics with functionality."

ALESSI products, to date, are available from to a number of countries worldwide. In Manila, the flagship store is located here:
ALESSI - High St.
Bldg. 5, Unit 1E10-1E11 Bonifacio High St.
Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Metro Manila
Philippines
(632) 8564452

TrAvElInG fUn WiTh JuLiANa...

Just last week, Juliana got adventurous and decided to travel off her beaten path, come with me, and give Manila a shot -- for 5 days!!!

As much as I was looking forward to this trip with Juliana, I was also getting anxiety attacks, as I do when I am playing tour guide... No matter where we might be heading... and it did not help that most of her friends are asking her: "Why Manila?" I guess these days, when people think of traveling to Manila, not for business, they go for the beaches: Boracay, Palawan, Davao... not too much the city -- which can be quite overwhelming to most... I remember traveling there with a friend from San Francisco back in the early 90's - this being his first time in Asia, he totally suffered CULTURE SHOCK!
Am so relieved that all turned out well, more than well to be exact... Juliana was such a perfect traveling companion... not demanding at all... and just as "happy go lucky" as I am.... we filled our days with just about anything... no real schedule and plans.... we roamed where the day took us.... shopped and window shopped... enjoyed the XMas decor - which really is a MUST SEE as the Filipinos go all out for this Holiday.... and ate here and there....

Each day we got back home around 9 or 10 pm... settled in and relax for a bit, shower and chat about the people we saw, people we wished were with us in the trip, the things we bought and did not buy, and life in general -- till 1AM!!! Overall, it was a GREAT TRIP... one for the memories, indeed... and we are already talking about the next one.... here's a bit of the ITINERARY:

Nov. 22nd: First stop was my FAVE place in Manila, Shangrila - Edsa Mall... ate at Sumosam Japanese restaurant, walked about, shopped, and then met up with my family for dinner at Barrio Fiesta, a typical Filipino Restaurant.

Nov. 23rd: Met with Filipino artist, Jose Guillermo Naval @ Artina Resto & Gallery to pick up one of his works; lunch at Jollibbee; DVD shopping at Makati Square; then HIGH St @ The Fort to meet Juliana's Taiwanese friends living in Manila, the Chens, and dinner at Abe Restaurant.

Nov. 24th: Gave Juliana a TRUE Pinoy experience... made her take a tricycle, then the MRT to go North to hang out at one of the biggest and most crowded shopping malls, TRINOMA; lunch @ 5 Cows; saw the movie PASSENGERS; and the double whammy - coffee from STARBUCKS & desserts from Krispy Kreme;

Nov. 25th: Daytime was spent discovering the SPANISH influenced area of INTRAMUROS; lunch @ ILLUSTRADO & antique shopping at SILAHIS; In the evening we headed to The Podium to relax @ The Spa, a bit of shopping, and then dinner at KIMONO KEN.

L.E.G.O., who knew???

It has been so long since I walked down the LEGO aisle of any Toy Shops - I was soooo AMAZED to see how much they have really evolved!!! Really Cool LEGO Exhibition at High Street, The Fort... I was told by the exhibitioners that it should be running through the end of DEC -- so it will be AMAZING more XMAS shoppers, for sure.... Go See it if you have the chance guys... and Enjoy!!!

We happened upon this LEGO exhibition, when my friend, Juliana and I, went to meet a few of her family friends at High St. in the Fort Bonifacio District on Nov. 24th...

Jose Guillermo Naval @ ARTINA

Walking about A.Venue on the nite of the 22nd, before meeting my family for dinner at Barrio Fiesta - we happen upon this Artina - a gallery restaurant which is really nicely done. What really drew us though,as we were not looking for a restaurant were the paintings on the wall... in particular, the one of the boy facing the wall - the painting spoke to both Juliana and I.... for different reasons am sure....

It reminded me so much of being punished by my step-father growing up.... i was always sent to face the corner walls... for one reason or another - little did I know it was more because I looked like my DAD so much and he did not want to be reminded... LOLs....

Anyway, we went in and met with the Ms. Geraldine David, the Manager of the place and she was kind and sweet and very accommodating... we had a few questions about the paintings and the painter which she answered graciously... then she contacted the artist, with answers to a few more queries from us.... Now that is service!!! Juliana and I both loved the painting and decided to get it... since she is the GUEST and it is her first time in MANILA, I graciously let her have the painting....

The following day, we went back to pick it up and found Mr Naval, the artist himself, packing the painting for travel. It was such a pleasure to talk with him... get some insight to his ideas and inspirations... and even got to utter a few words in Spanish with him... AM A FAN, now... and am awaiting to take one of his paintings for my Condo wall, too!
ARTINA is on the Ground Floor of A.Venue. The change their art displays every month and starting the 26th of this month they have another big exhibition going on with a few artists, including Mr. Naval's works. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED place to visit -- to dine and admire the artworks. Ms Geraldine David is very pleasant and sweet to talk with.

Thankful!

I see myself as basically a nice guy.... simple.... friendly... helping in anyway I can, here and there.... and most of all, I ALWAYS TRY SEE see something GOOD & BEAUTIFUL in anything and everything.... no matter where I am... who am dealing with in life.... and with all the things that happens, not just to me but in this world we LIVE in....

Recently, we have SUFFERED a GREAT LOSS.... no one DYING - mind you... more like MONETARY LOSS.... a little over US$20,000 to be exact.... in these trying times, losing this amount is enough to drive anyone crazy or into a deep depression.... It would have been OK, I SUPPOSE, if it was just due to the flailing economy happening all the world.... but it was more DUE to TRUSTING TOO MUCH and being TAKEN by the EVIL PEOPLE of the world....

We have been PONDERING and yes, I CRIED over this for weeks.... and we are basically just now regaining our FOCUS ONCE AGAIN -- DRIVE and DETERMINATION.... Thanks to FAMILY, FRIENDS & LOVE ONES -- we are able to LOOK BEYOND all of this and GAIN BACK OUR POSITIVE OUTLOOK in LIFE...

As friends lovingly reminded me.... there is such a THING as KARMA... and $$$ can be gained once again with hard work and perseverance.... I do still have my HEALTH, my FRIENDS, & FAMILY -- and for this am very THANKFUL.... they are what MATTERS most in LIFE!!!
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So HUG LIFE! HUG your LOVE ONES!! and MAKE every MOMENT COUNT!!!

with FRIENDS like these....

Okay, with Thanksgiving just around the corner - I got to thinking about some of the TRADITIONS I had back in San Francisco... family & friends get-together; touch football with friends; pigging out; and the BEST of all, watching the Thanksgiving Episode of FRIENDS! Each and every season, it is the one episode I try not to miss -- they always come up with something really fun and funny... Thank GOD for youtube - one can always catch them, anytime of the year...

Here's the one that started it all for me, "The One With The Football":

and the HILARIOUS one where, "Rachel Makes Dessert"

7 Weeks To Equality

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We call on all supporters of equality to sustain and intensify the nationwide campaign of mass protests and non-violent civil disobedience, for seven weeks, starting on November 27, 2008, the thirtieth anniversary of the assassination of Harvey Milk, and to then gather together in mass, from all corners of our country, in Washington, DC on the morning of Tuesday, January 20, 2009, to honor the inauguration of our President, Barack Obama.
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We cannot all be there -- but we can take part by endorsing the Petition - pls click below for more INFO and to Do Your Share:
Seven Weeks to Equality

Bernardo Bertulucci's Little Buddha

Little Buddha, inspired by a TRUE STORY, is moving drama from Academy Award-winning director Bernardo Bertolucci. It tells the story of a Tibetan monk known as Lama Norbu (Ying Ruocheng), living in exile in Bhutan, and is searching for the reincarnation of his teacher, Lama Dorje. His quest takes him to Seattle, where signs indicate that a boy named Jesse may be the lama. Cultures collide when we meet the boy's American parents (Bridget Fonda and actor/singer Chris Isaak), who are understandably skeptical about Lama Norbu's excitement. Ultimately, Jesse and his father are curious enough to travel to Nepal and Bhutan (as did Bertolucci's crew), where other candidates have been identified. Throughout the film, Bertolucci cuts to episodes in the life of Siddhartha (Keanu Reeves), whose voyage of discovery 2,500 years ago led to his enlightenment as the Buddha. Bertolucci shoots Siddhartha's journey in rich reds and golds, while the scenes in Seattle--where the Americans seem morose and lost--are muted in cool blue. LITTLE BUDDHA is an intimate story in which an ancient system of belief holds its own in the modern world.

This beautifully filmed, little movie filmed mostly in Thailand, is sooooo moving - and such a cinematic experience for me especially seeing the SIDDHARTHA story line come to life in the big screen... Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse is one of my all time FAVE books...

So this movie is really a story within a story of a movie... subtlely and beautifully told -- on all counts. And as an added BONUS, Siddhartha is played by a very young Keanu Reeves.